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| Allergies Home » Types of Allergies » Eye Allergies |
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Eye Allergies |
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Eye allergies, like all allergies, are due to overreactions of the immune system to foreign particles, which may otherwise not be so harmful. People those who do not have allergies, in them the immune response which occurs due to exposure to an allergen is controlled, and creates few if any symptoms. And those who have allergies, in them, the activation of immune response ultimately results in the release of inappropriate and high measures of chemical mediators, like histamine. These mediators are creditworthy for the symptoms of different types of allergic reactions. There are various types of eye allergies like atopic which include atopic keratoconjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis and hayfever conjunctivitis, toxic papillary reactions, medication reactions, and eye allergies related to contact lens.
The eyes are actually the windows to the soul because they do reflect our different states of mind. This surely cannot be true if our eyes are watery, red and itchy because of an allergic reaction. Dangerous allergic eye symptoms at times become very distressing and are a common reason for the persons affected with this type of allergy to visits the ophthalmologist or allergist. Sometimes, severe eye allergies cause grievous damage that can also result in the loss of our eyesight.
Eye allergies are mainly associated with other various other allergic conditions, particularly hay fever or allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema or dermatitis. The reasons behind eye allergies are similar in many cases to those of hay fever and allergic asthma. Cosmetics and medications can play a very significant role in the formation of eye allergies. Eye irritants and other major eye conditions are usually confused with eye allergy. Eye allergies largely involve the conjunctiva. It is the tissue lining that covers up the inner folds of the eyelids and the white surface of the eyeball. The conjunctiva is a barrier structure which is exposed to the surroundings and the different allergens that become airborne. It is abundantly found in blood vessels and contains more mast cells than lungs.
The lacrimal glands are situated in the outer and upper portions of the eye. They are creditworthy for creating the watery component of tears. The tears contain significant immune defense substances like lymphocytes, immunoglobulin and enzymes. The cornea of the eye is the transparent sheath which is in front of the lens of the eye. It has no blood vessels and has little immune activity.
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Atopic is one of the different types of eye allergies. This includes:
- Vernal keratoconjunctivitis- Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is a seasonally repeating conjunctivitis capable of affecting the peripheral cornea, mainly occurring in young adults and children.
- Atopic keratoconjunctivitis: It is a similar entity to vernal keratoconjunctivitis, but it occurs largely in aged patients who have had a history of atopic eczematoid dermatitis. It is not seasonal and may cause more corneal and conjunctival scarring if not checked
- Hayfever conjunctivitis- This allergy is a quick intense response to an airborne allergen. This type is generally short-lived and episodic. It is also known as a seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
- Use of anti-allergy eye drops like lodoxamide, nedocromil, sodium chromoglycate and olopatidine regularly help in treating mild seasonal disease.
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